Oil tank property scans (Oil Tank Sweeps)- $250
Exploratory Digs- $400
Covering ALL of NJ
Fully Insured
In business since 2018
*We're also available EVENINGS during the week and WEEKENDS
*Ask about First Responder/ Military Discounts
*Loyalty Discounts for using our services multiple times
Get a Quote/ Schedule Now
Email: oiltankscanNJ@gmail.com
Call or Text: 732-673-1584
About Us
At Oil Tank Scan NJ, we specialize in Oil Tank Property Scans (Oil Tanks Sweeps) and Exploratory Digs, nothing else. We perform hundreds of scans (sweeps) throughout the state of New Jersey and help buyers/ homeowners have the peace of mind of knowing that there are no hidden oil tanks on their properties. With us covering the entire state, our technicians have the experience of working on all different types of properties (shore houses, urban areas, farms, etc...).
What is an Oil Tank Property Scan (Oil Tank Sweep)?
An oil tank property scan (oil tank sweep) is a thorough inspection of a property to identify any buried, underground oil tanks (USTs). This can be a residential or commercial property.
If we have access inside the property, (which is not needed) the technician starts by going inside the property and searching where the furnace is (or originally was). We search for evidence of any old fuel distribution lines. These lines are copper and usually are in a pair. These lines would have run from the oil tank to the furnace. This will give us an idea of where the potential tank would be (if lines run out the wall on the left side of the house- a tank would typically be on the left side of the house).
Next, the technician performs the oil tank property scan (oil tank sweep). We will walk the property as if we were cutting the grass. Our machinery will search for and identify any metal anomalies. If a suspect area picks up on our machinery, we will document them as areas of concern (AOCs) and suggest an exploratory dig to identify what is setting off our machinery. The technician will also be performing a visual inspection of the property while walking the property. We will be looking for any Vent Pipes or Fill Pipes (these are attached to the top of oil tanks).
If there is an area of concern (AOC) an Exploratory Dig is suggested. This is a secondary appointment in which we dig by hand (shovels) down until we can identify what object is setting off our machinery. You will know 100% what that object is after this.
Do I need an Oil Tank Property Scan (Oil Tank Sweep)?
An oil tank property scan (oil tank sweep) is not legally required but is highly recommended. In most cases, mortgage lenders actually require an oil tank property scan (oil tank sweep) before closing on a property. This is because they do not want to run the risk of there being an underground oil tank (UST) and decreasing the value of the property or having a tank leak and costing tons of money.
Ninety-nine percent of the time it is the buyer of the property that is conducting an oil tank property scan (oil tank sweep). As a buyer you want to protect your investment on said property. Once you take ownership of the property you will become responsible and liable for that property. If there ends up being a buried oil tank (UST) which leaks and contaminates soil and water supplies, you are now the responsible party to these issues. These issues can cost TONS of money. It is best to make sure that you are not putting yourself in this situation, and that is done by having an oil tank property scan (oil tank sweep) prior to closing on your property and taking ownership.
Asking the sellers of the property about oil tanks on his/her property is a good idea, BUT unfortunately their word should not be taken. Sometimes property owners will lie about oil tanks as they are looking to sell their property and will withhold information from you. Also, they may just not know. There may have been an oil tank on the property for the owners of it before them, and they never did a scan (sweep), so they would have no idea. Also, if there was an older home which was knocked down and a new one put up, the older home may have had one. It's always best to be safe than sorry.
You can also search the town records for information on oil tanks for said property. This is another hit or miss form of information. When pulling an oil tank from the ground, legally a permit is needed. But we all know that a lot of times people do things illegally. So, it is possible that someone opened up a permit to remove an underground oil tank, but never closed that permit. This means that they may have had a friend with a backhoe who came over and they removed it over a weekend without going through the permit process (to save money). So, the records will show that there still should be a tank on the property, but there actually isn't. Point being the town records aren't one hundred percent accurate. Towns/ the state didn't keep as great records years back in regard to underground oil tanks. People also used to decommission tanks by cutting the tops off of them and filling them with gravel/sand. Sometimes the records show that the tank "was removed," whereas it actually was decommissioned. Therefore, your property would still have a tank on it.